Covered separable fastener



April 28, 1964 RYsER 3,130,465

COVERED SEP ARABLE FASTENER Original Filed May 1, 195? Fig.3

UnitedStates Patent Ofiice 3,139,465 Patented Apr. 28, 1964 3,139,465(IOVERED SEPAF LE FASTENER Ernst Ryser, Via Turconi, lendrisio,Switzerland, assignor of one-half to Bertrand Vournard, La Granadaonds,dwitzerland Original application May 1, 1957, er. No. 656,306, nowPatent No. 3,037,255, dated dune 5, 1962. Divided and this applicationlvlar. 14, 1962, Ser. No. 179,733 fllaims priority, applicationSwitzerland Mar. 5, 1557 Claims. (Ci. 24295.1)

This invention relates to covered separable fasteners havinginterlocking fastener members attached to stringer tapes and is adivision of my copending application, Serial No. 656,306, filed May 1,1957, now US. Patent 3,037,255.

It is known to provide at least one or" the stringers of a fastenerarrangement with a covering strip which completely covers the fastenermembers at the outer side thereof when the separable fastener is in aclosed condi tion. On the other hand, it is also known to fashion thefastener members with an asymmetric hook-shaped form with respect to alongitudinal center plane of the fastener extending transversely to thestringer plane. The stringer tapes are inserted into the interior of thehooks of these members. The hook ends about which pass the stringertapes are in this case arranged so that in the closed position of thefastener the two stringer tapes contact each other in the saidlongitudinal center plane of the fastener at the front side thereof andthus cover the fastener members against being seen from the outside.However, it has been found in actual practice that a one-sided coveringof the fastener members does not suffice in many fields of application.

Therefore it is an object of the invention to provide a separablefastener that is covered on both sides.

According to the present invention the fastener members of the separablefastener are symmetrically formed with respect to the stringer tapeplane. The arrangement is such that along the longitudinal center planeof the fastener which is at right angles to the plane of the stringertape at each side of the head of each fastener member, a portion of thestringer tape retained in the latter and associated with this fastenermember emerges in such a manner, that when the fastener is closed, thestringer tape leaving the fastener members of one of the rows ofmembers, and the opposite stringer tape leaving the members of the otherrow make contact in the longitudinal center plane of the separablefastener.

The separable fastener according to the present invention therefore iscovered on both sides owing to the above described formation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a separable fastenerhaving two rows of fastener members anchored to stringer tapes, eachstringer comprising two tape portions each of which is attached by anedge bead in the fastener members of the associated rows and emerges atboth sides from these fastener members.

When the portion set each stringer tape emerging at both sides from thefastener members remain disengaged and are together secured, forexample, to an article of clothing only during insertion of theseparable fastener in :0 said article, it may occur that the fastenermembers of one row, when the fastener is open, are not tightly grippedby the stringer portions and thus are able to move relatively to eachother out of the plane of the fastener. \l'hen subsequently individualfastener members have been displaced a sufficient extent out ofalignment with the remaining members of the row, the slide fastener canno longer be closed at this point, because, in operating the usualslider, the members will only be urged further out of their position ofalignment, which may lead to damaging the fastener.

It is still another object of the invention to overcome including lineIll-ill.

the above disadvantage in that the stringer tapes are folded back overthe legs of the associated fastener members and are firmlyinterconnected immediately behind the legs of the members remote fromthe head thereof.

In this manner a stringer sleeve is produced which snugly surrounds thelegs of the fastener members of each row and prevents adjacent membersfrom mutually moving to an excessive degree transversely to the plane ofthe fastener.

It is also an object of the invention to produce a separable fastener inwhich the slider of the fastener comprises two plates which are situatedeach at one side of the fastener and are interconnected by a centralcore piece, said plates being also provided with lateral guide memberswhich travel solely on the two stringer tapes. Thereby a smooth quiettravel of the slider is obtained, and the latter is prevented fromsticking to the fastener members, which may lead to damaging thefastener.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification of whichthe accompanying drawings form a part and represent a preferredembodiment of the invention and in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a plan View of a separable fastener covered on both sidesin accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 shows a plan view of a fastener member of the separablefastener of FIGURE 1 prior to the insertion of the stringer tapes;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view along lines IIII of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view along lines Ill-III of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view along lines 1VIV of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view along lines V-V of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 7 is a sectional View along lines VI'VI of FIGURE 1. a

The separable fastener of FIGURE 1 comprises first and second pairs ofstringer tapes 10 and 12 to which are secured rows of fastener members14 which are caused to engage with each other through the agency ofslider 16 to form an airtight seam along the plane I) of FIGS. 6 and 7.r

The fastener members 14 shown in greater detail in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 arein known manner produced by a stamping operation. These members comprisea coupling head 18 which is provided with a recess 20 and a couplingprojection 22. Each fastener member 14 has formed thereon two outwardlybent hook-shaped legs 24 and is symmetrically shaped with respect to theplane The lateral surfaces of the coupling head 13 of the fastenermember 14 are slightly beveled at the edges.

As shown in the FIG. 2, the coupling heads 18 of the fastener members 14are not symmetrically beveled with respect to the longitudinal centerplane b at their respective sides, but formed so that the inclinedsurfaces 26, situated at the head side remote of the legs 24 of afastener member of one of the rows, are somewhat set back with respectto the inclined surfaces 27 provided at the head side facing the legs 24of a fastener member of the other row. This can be seen in FIG. 7wherein two fastener members are shown engaged, and the surface Z27 ofone fastener is not coincident with the surface 26 of the otherfastener.

The coupling head 18 is joined to the legs by a neck portion 23 whoserear surface 39 is straight and from which legs 24 extend substantiallyat right angles when closed. Each of the legs 24 includes a straightportion 32 and a nose 34.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 7 the numerals 10a and 10b represent the twoparts of one of the stringer tape 19 while 12a and 12!) indicate the twoparts of the other stringer tape 12. A row of fastener members 14 issecured to each of the two stringer tapes. The legs 24 of the fastenermember 14 form at each side a hook 38 by virtue of straight portion 32and the nose 34 disposed opposite neck 28 and head 18 (see FIG. 7). Bymeans of these hooks 38 the edge beads 40 of either stringer tape 10 or12 are tightly clamped, so that the two stringer parts, say 10a and 10blaterally emerge from the fastener members 14 approximately in the Zoneof the coupling axis of the separable fastener. In other words theopposite parts of the two stringer tapes 10 and 12 contact each other inthe longitudinal center plane b (FIG. 7) of the separable fastenerextending at right angles to the plane of the separable fastener, whenthe separable fastener is in closed position.

The two stringer parts 10a, 16b and 12a, 12b, respectively, which emergeout of the fastener members 14 at the side thereof, are turned back overthe legs 24 of the fastener members 14 and are rigidly connected to eachother by a quilting seam 42 immediately behind the flat end face 30. Thequilting seam serves therefore-to join the stringer parts together at alocation immediately behind face 30 and the quilting seam extendslongitudinally along the tapes to a position somewhat beyond each endpiece 50 and 52 respectively. Consequently the legs 24 of each row offastener members 14 are locked in place, each snugly fitting into asleeve portion formed by the two parts of the stringer tape.

It is understood that a plurality of quilting seams 42 extendingparallel to each other could also be used; in place of the quiltingseams 42 any other connection, for example, by stitching or adhesivemeans, could also be provided.

At that end of the separable fastener where the slider 16 is positionedwhen the fastener is closed, the two parts 10a, 10b and 12a, 1211,respectively, of the stringer tapes are securely connected to each othereach by means of an end piece 50 (FIGS. 1 and surrounding and clampingtogether the edge beads 40. At the other end of the separable fastenerwhere the slider 16 will be located when the fastener is in openposition, the mutually opposite parts a, 12a and 10b, 12b, respectively,of the two stringer tapes are securely connected to each other each bymeans of an end piece 52 (FIGS. 1 and 6) surrounding and clampingtogether the edge beads 40. Thereby the rows of fastener members 14 areperfectly closed at their ends; in addition the traveling path of theslider 16 will be limited particularly during opening of the separablefastener, whereby it is practically impossible to open up the fastenerto an excessive extent. Since the clamping end pieces 52 immovably fixthe two rows of fastener members 14 in their mutual position, at anytime the correct interengagement of the co-acting fastener members ofthe two rows is insured even after the fastener has been opened to itsmaximum extent.

It is understood that the described arrangement could also be made incase of a separable fastener which is not covered.

The slider .16 of the shown separable fastener comprises two plates 16beach situated at one side of the closure member, which plates areconnected to each other by a central core piece 16a. The lateral edgesof these plates 16b are provided with guide members 160 facing eachother. The inner wall 16d of the guide members 160 is a right angle tothe plane of the plates 16b and is also parallel to the flat end face 30of fastener member 14. As distinctly shown in FIG. 7, the slider "16exclusively travels along the two stringer tapes 10a, 19b and 12a, 12b,respectively, and its plates 1612 provided with the guide members 16csurround the fastener members enveloped by the stringer parts.

It is understood that a separable fastener, which is covered only at oneside or not at all and in which the stringer parts though also emerginglaterally from the fastener members but contacting each other only atone side or not at all in the longitudinal center plane when thefastener is closed, may be provided with a slider of the described kindtraveling exclusively upon the stringer tapes.

What is claimed is:

l. A covered separable fastener comprising first and second stringerseach consisting of a pair of stringer tapes, said stringer tapes havingopposite edge portions, and interlocking fastener members secured inlongitudinally spaced relation to said opposite edge portions of saidstringer tapes, said stringer tapes defining a stringer tape plane, saidinterlocking fastener members being symmetrical with respect to thestringer tape plane, said interlocking fastener members each comprisinga coupling head, a neck portion narrower than said coupling head, saidneck portion including a side surface, and a pair of tape engaging legs,each of said tape engaging legs including a straight portion, a noseportion on said straight portion and a side surface, said tape engaginglegs defining a flat end surface for the respective fastener memberwhich is remote from the coupling head and which lies perpendicular tothe stringer tape plane, said nose portion extending laterally adjacentsaid coupling head and directed towards said neck portion, said couplinghead cooperating with said nose portion of said tape engaging legs forsecuring said stringer tapes to said members, said stringer tapesengaging the whole side surface of said neck portion and the sidesurfaces of said tape engaging legs and being in locked relationtherewith, said stringer tapes emerging from both sides of said fastenermembers laterally of said coupling head and said nose portion to aposition midway of the coupling head at the longitudinal center plane ofsaid fastener members and extending at right angles to saidfirst-mentioned plane with said nose portions holding said stringertapes in engagement with said coupling head, so that with the separablefastener closed the stringer tapes emerging from the fastener member ofone stringer is in contact with the stringer tapes emerging from thefastener members of the other stringers, said stringer tapes emergingfrom each fastener member and enveloping said legs and lying in flatface to face contact with the fastener along said end surfaces thereofand means for joining said stringer tapes to each other in a regionimmediately opposite said flat end face to retain said stringer tapes incontact therewith to permit a slider to pass thereover.

2. The covered separable fastener of claim 1 in which said joining meansis at least one quilting seam.

3. A separable fastener according to claim 1 including a common endpiece for connecting said first and second stringers to each other, saidcommon end piece surrounding the edge beads of the stringers at one end,and separate end pieces at the opposite ends of each stringer, each ofsaid separate end pieces connecting together the stringer tapes of theassociated stringer by engageably surrounding the edge beads of thestringer tapes.

4. A separable fastener according to claim 1 including 7 a slider on theseparable fastener slidable along the stringer tapes emerging from thefastener members.

5. A covered separable fastener comprising first and second stringers,said stringers having opposite edge portions each stringer consisting ofa pair of stringer tapes, each of said stringer tapes including edgebeads, and a plurality of interlocking fastener members secured inlongitudinally spaced relation along said opposite edge portions of saidstringers, each of said fastener members comprising a coupling head, apair of legs extending from said coupling head for engaging said edgebeads of said stringer tapes, said pair of legs defining a flat end faceremote from said coupling head, said stringer tapes of each stringeremerging from between the coupling head and a respective leg and beingturned back over said pair of legs of the associated fastener member,means for fixing the stringer tapes of each stringer in a regionimmediately opposite said flat end face with said stringer tapes lyingflat in face to face relation all along the flat end face defined bysaid pair of legs and a slider including top and bottom platespositioned each at one side of the fastener, a central core piececonnecting said plates in spaced relation and lateral guide members onsaid plate exclusively movable along the stringer tapes and includinginside surfaces extending substantially parallel to the flat end facesof the fastener members and in contact with the stringer tapes extendingalong the flat end faces of the fastener member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,067,734 Silberman Jan. 12, 1937 6 Feist Dec. 29, 1942 Gould Apr. 20,1943 Brown Apr. 17, 1951 Kuzmick Sept. 1, 1953 Mullna May 7, 1957FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Oct. 7, 1933 Switzerland July 16, 1941 AustraliaApr. 12, 1955 Australia May 10, 1955

1. A COVERED SEPARABLE FASTENER COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND STRINGERSEACH CONSISTING OF A PAIR OF STRINGER TAPES, SAID STRINGER TAPES HAVINGOPPOSITE EDGE PORTIONS, AND INTERLOCKING FASTENER MEMBERS SECURED INLONGITUDINALLY SPACED RELATION TO SAID OPPOSITE EDGE PORTIONS OF SAIDSTRINGER TAPES, SAID STRINGER TAPES DEFINING A STRINGER TAPE PLANE, SAIDINTERLOCKING FASTENER MEMBERS BEING SYMMETRICAL WITH RESPECT TO THESTRINGER TAPE PLANE, SAID INTERLOCKING FASTENER MEMBERS EACH COMPRISINGA COUPLING HEAD, A NECK PORTION NARROWER THAN SAID COUPLING HEAD, SAIDNECK PORTION INCLUDING A SIDE SURFACE, AND A PAIR OF TAPE ENGAGING LEGS,EACH OF SAID TAPE ENGAGING LEGS INCLUDING A STRAIGHT PORTION, A NOSEPORTION ON SAID STRAIGHT PORTION AND A SIDE SURFACE, SAID TAPE ENGAGINGLEGS DEFINING A FLAT END SURFACE FOR THE RESPECTIVE FASTENER MEMBERWHICH IS REMOTE FROM THE COUPLING HEAD AND WHICH LIES PERPENDICULAR TOTHE STRINGER TAPE PLANE, SAID NOSE PORTION EXTENDING LATERALLY ADJACENTSAID COUPLING HEAD AND DIRECTED TOWARDS SAID NECK PORTION, SAID COUPLINGHEAD AND DIRECTED TOWARDS SAID NECK PORTION, SAID COUPLING HEADCOOPERATING WITH SAID NOSE PORTION OF SAID TAPE ENGAGING LEGS FORSECURING SAID STRINGER TAPES TO SAID MEMBERS, SAID STRINGER TAPESENGAGING THE WHOLE SIDE SURFACE OF SAID NECK PORTION AND THE SIDESURFACES OF SAID TAPE ENGAGING LEGS AND BEING IN LOCKED RELATIONTHEREWITH, SAID STRINGER TAPES EMERGING FROM BOTH SIDES OF SAID FASTENERMEMBERS LATERALLY OF SAID COUPLING HEAD AND SAID NOSE PORTION TO APOSITION MIDWAY OF THE COUPLING HEAD AT THE LONGITUDINAL CENTER PLANE OFSAID FASTENER MEMBERS AND EXTENDING AT RIGHT ANGLES TO SAIDFIRST-MENTIONED PLANE WITH SAID NOSE PORTIONS HOLDING SAID STRINGERTAPES IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID COUPLING HEAD, SO THAT WITH THE SEPARABLEFASTENER CLOSED THE STRINGER TAPES EMERGING FROM THE FASTENER MEMBER OFONE STRINGER IS IN CONTACT WITH THE STRINGER TAPES EMERGING FROM THEFASTENER MEMBERS OF THE OTHER STRINGERS, SAID STRINGER TAPES EMERGINGFROM EACH FASTENER MEMBER AND ENVELOPING SAID LEGS AND LYING IN FLATFACE TO FACE CONTACT WITH THE FASTENER ALONG SAID END SURFACES THEREOFAND MEANS FOR JOINING SAID STRINGER TAPES TO EACH OTHER IN A REGIONIMMEDIATELY OPPOSITE SAID FLAT END FACE TO RETAIN SAID STRINGER TAPES INCONTACT THEREWITH TO PERMIT A SLIDER TO PASS THEREOVER.